通元针法对IVF-ET反复种植失败患者妊娠结局、性激素和焦虑抑郁影响的前瞻性随机对照研究

摘要 目的：观察通元针法对体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）反复种植失败（RIF）患者妊娠结局、性激素和焦虑抑郁影响。方法：前瞻性选取广州中医药大学第一附属医院2019年5月到2021年4月期间收治的IVF-ET RIF患者122例，采用随机数字表法将其分为对照组（61例，常规治疗）和研究组（61例，对照组的基础上接受通元针法治疗）。观察两组临床妊娠率、胚胎种植率，记录治疗期间不良反应发生情况，观察治疗前后子宫内膜厚度和子宫内膜血流参数、性激素和焦虑抑郁的变化情况。结果：研究组的临床妊娠率、胚胎种植率高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后，研究组孕酮、雌二醇水平高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后，研究组的子宫内膜血流搏动指数（PI）、子宫内膜血流阻力指数（RI）、子宫内膜血流收缩期最高血流速度/舒张末期血流速度（S/D）较治疗前降低，且低于对照组，子宫内膜厚度较对照组更厚（P<0.05）。治疗后，研究组Zung焦虑自评量表（SAS）、Zung抑郁自评量表（SDS）评分低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率组间对比，无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：通元针法用于IVF-ET RIF患者，可有效调节人体性激素，缓解焦虑抑郁心情，改善妊娠结局，安全可靠。     

促排卵过程中添加重组人生长激素对卵巢储备功能低下患者IVF-ET结局的影响及妊娠结局的影响因素探讨

摘要 目的：探讨促排卵过程中添加重组人生长激素（r-hGH）对卵巢储备功能低下（DOR）患者体外授精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）结局的影响,并分析妊娠结局的影响因素。方法：选择2021年1月至2022年1月徐州市中心医院拟接受IVF-ET治疗的DOR患者60例、徐州医科大学附属沭阳医院拟接受IVF-ET治疗的DOR患者36例,共计96例,采用随机数字表法分为两组,每组48例,对照组予以常规促排卵治疗,观察组促排卵过程中添加r-hGH治疗,比较两组促排卵、体外受精、胚胎移植以及妊娠相关指标。此外,根据妊娠结局将所有患者分成妊娠成功组和妊娠失败组,采用多因素Logistic回归分析IVF-ET结局的影响因素。结果：观察组胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率高于对照组（P＜0.05）;观察组与对照组注射重组人促卵泡激素（Gn）天数、Gn用量、人绒毛膜促性腺激素（HCG）日雌二醇（E2）水平、HCG日黄体生成素（LH）水平、HCG日子宫内膜厚度、获卵数、成熟卵数、受精率、卵裂率、可移植胚胎数、优质胚胎数、移植胚胎数、早期流产率比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。单因素分析结果显示：妊娠失败组女方平均年龄大于妊娠成功组,基础卵泡刺激素（FSH）水平、IVF周期≥2个的患者比例高于妊娠成功组,促排卵应用了r-hGH的患者比例低于妊娠成功组,HCG日子宫内膜厚度小于妊娠成功组,基础窦卵泡数（AFC）个数、成熟卵数、优质胚胎数少于妊娠成功组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示：女方年龄≥35岁、基础FSH≥14.40 IU/L、HCG日子宫内膜厚度＜10 mm、基础AFC＜5.5个是DOR患者IVF-ET妊娠失败的危险因素,而促排卵应用r-hGH治疗是保护因素（P＜0.05）。结论：促排卵过程中增加r-hGH治疗可提高DOR患者IVF-ET胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率。女方年龄、基础FSH和AFC、HCG日子宫内膜厚度、r-hGH治疗均与IVF-ET妊娠结局有关。     

不明原因复发性流产再次妊娠患者血清1,25(OH)2D3、sTim-3与Th17/Treg免疫失衡和妊娠结局的关系

摘要 目的：探讨不明原因复发性流产（URSA）再次妊娠患者血清1,25-二羟维生素D3[1,25（OH)）₂D₃]、可溶性T细胞免疫球蛋白黏蛋白分子3（sTim-3）与辅助性T细胞17（Th17）/调节性T细胞（Treg）免疫失衡和妊娠结局的关系。方法：选择于湖南省妇幼保健院2020年1月~2022年1月就诊的62例URSA再次妊娠患者作为研究组,另选择同期进行孕检的正常早孕妇女30例作为对照组。比较两组孕早期血清1,25(OH) ₂D₃、sTim-3及外周血Th17细胞、Treg细胞水平、Th17/Treg比值。Pearson法分析URSA再次妊娠患者血清1,25(OH) ₂D₃、sTim-3与外周血Th17细胞、Treg细胞水平、Th17/Treg比值平的相关性。根据URSA再次妊娠患者妊娠结局的不同分为妊娠成功分娩组和妊娠再次流产组,比较两组孕早期血清1,25(OH) ₂D₃、sTim-3与外周血Th17细胞、Treg细胞水平、Th17/Treg比值。受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清1,25(OH) ₂D₃、sTim-3与外周血Th17细胞、Treg细胞水平、Th17/Treg比值对妊娠结局的预测价值。结果：研究组血清sTim-3、外周血Th17细胞水平、Th17/Treg比值高于对照组,血清1,25(OH) ₂D₃、外周血Treg细胞水平低于对照组（P<0.05）。Pearson相关分析显示,URSA再次妊娠患者血清1,25(OH) ₂D₃与血清sTim-3、外周血Th17细胞水平、Th17/Treg比值呈负相关,与Treg细胞水平呈正相关（P<0.05）;血清sTim-3与外周血Treg细胞水平呈负相关,与Th17细胞水平、Th17/Treg比值呈正相关（P<0.05）。妊娠再次流产组血清sTim-3、外周血Th17细胞水平、Th17/Treg比值高于妊娠成功分娩组,血清1,25(OH) ₂D₃、外周血Treg细胞水平低于妊娠成功分娩组（P<0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,血清1,25(OH) ₂D₃、sTim-3及外周血Th17细胞、Treg细胞水平及Th17/Treg比值均可预测URSA再次妊娠患者妊娠再次流产的发生风险,且上述指标联合检测的预测效能更高。结论：血清1,25(OH) ₂D₃水平异常降低、sTim-3水平异常升高可导致Th17/Treg免疫失衡,导致URSA再次妊娠患者再次发生流产。上述指标联合检测对URSA再次妊娠患者妊娠再次流产的预测效能更高。     

胚胎移植术前指导患者憋尿对移植结局影响的研究

摘要 目的：探讨胚胎移植术前患者憋尿准备的细化指导方法,并分析其对患者移植结局的影响。方法：选取2019年9月至2020年12月期间我院收治的194例胚胎移植患者（包括新鲜周期胚胎移植和冻融周期胚胎移植）,按随机数字表法分为指导组（101例）和对照组（93例）。对照组患者给予常规指导憋尿,指导组患者在对照组的基础上给予更细化的憋尿指导方法。比较两组总妊娠率、不同年龄段患者的移植妊娠率,分析提前指导憋尿对瘢痕子宫和无子宫手术史患者移植妊娠率的影响。结果：指导组总妊娠率为59.41%,对照组总妊娠率为53.76%,指导组总妊娠率高于对照组,但是未见显著性差异（P>0.05）;在<35岁的患者中,指导组妊娠率（76.47%）高于对照组（58.33%）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;在瘢痕子宫和无子宫手术史的患者中,两组移植妊娠率比较未见显著性差异（P>0.05）。结论：胚胎移植术前给予患者细化的憋尿指导方法能提高<35岁患者的移植妊娠率,对瘢痕子宫和无子宫手术史患者的移植妊娠率无明显影响。     

无创胚胎染色体筛查技术在单囊胚冻胚复苏移植中的应用价值及其活产结局的因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨无创胚胎染色体筛查技术（NICS）在单囊胚冻胚复苏移植中的应用价值,分析影响活产结局的因素。方法：回顾性分析2019年1月至2021年12月我院收治的197例行单囊胚冻胚复苏移植患者的临床资料,53例行NICS检查且检测结果提示囊胚染色体拷贝数正常（NICS组）,26例NICS检测结果异常予以排除,118例未接受NICS检测（非NICS组）。收集临床资料并追踪妊娠结局,根据妊娠结局将患者分为活产组（75例）和非活产组（96例）,采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析影响单囊胚冻胚复苏移植活产的因素。结果：NICS组活产率高于非NICS组（P＜0.05）。单因素分析显示活产组女方年龄小于非活产组（P＜0.05）,基础卵泡雌激素（FSH）水平、常规试管婴儿（IVF）周期≥2个低于非活产组（P＜0.05）,优质胚胎数、移植日子宫内膜厚度和NICS检查比例、发育成囊胚时间为D5比例高于非活产组（P＜0.05）。多因素logistic回归分析显示女方年龄偏大、发育成囊胚时间为D6是影响单囊胚冻胚复苏移植活产的危险因素（P＜0.05）,NICS检查是其保护因素（P＜0.05）。结论：NICS筛查胎儿染色体异常可提高单囊胚冻胚复苏移植活产率,产妇高龄和囊胚发育速度过慢是影响活产的主要危险因素。在单囊胚冻胚复苏移植前有必要进行NICS检查,并尽量选择D5囊胚以提高活产率。     

黄体酮对子宫内膜异位症在位内膜预处理与IVF治疗结局关系

摘要 目的：研究黄体酮对子宫内膜异位症在位内膜预处理改善IVF结局。方法：男性因素并卵巢子宫内膜异位囊肿168例,分两组：（1）实验组：IVF前自然周期月经第12天地屈孕酮30 mg/日、14天,3个月;（2）对照组：IVF前无干预。IVF前测血CA125,黄体期长方案促排卵,排卵后一周（垂体降调日）再测CA125并取子宫内膜行ER、PR、HOXA-10mRNA检测。HCG日测子宫内膜厚度、形态、血流。比较临床资料及结局、症状疼痛评分。结果：实验组胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率高于对照组（P<0.05）;HCG日对照组子宫内膜厚于实验组。实验组子宫内膜A型血流比率高于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组A型子宫内膜比率高于对照组,但无明显差异（P>0.05）;IVF前两组CA125均高于参考值,但无明显差异（P>0.05）。垂体降调日复查CA125,实验组明显低于对照组,实验组治疗后低于治疗前;实验组子宫内膜ER、PR、HOXA-10 mRNA表达量高于对照组,实验组分泌期子宫内膜比率高于对照组（P<0.05）;治疗后两组各项症状疼痛评分均较治疗前改善,且实验组优于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：IVF治疗中合并卵巢子宫内膜异位囊肿用黄体酮预处理在位内膜,可以降低血CA125,有利于转变子宫内膜组织类型、减小子宫内膜厚度、增加子宫内膜血流、增加子宫内膜ER、PR、HOXA-10 mRNA表达,改善在位内膜容受性,缓解症状疼痛,提高临床妊娠率。     

宫腔镜下冷刀分离术后P8仿生物电刺激辅助治疗宫腔粘连的临床研究

摘要 目的：探讨宫腔镜下冷刀分离术后P8仿生物电刺激辅助治疗宫腔粘连的效果及对患者子宫内膜血流参数和血清基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）、转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）水平的影响。方法：选取2017年3月至2019年3月我院收治的宫腔粘连患者106例进行前瞻性随机对照研究,以随机数字表法将患者分为研究组（n=53）和对照组（n=53）。两组均采取宫腔镜下冷刀分离术,对照组术后置入COOK球囊,并在术后当天给予人工周期治疗,研究组在对照组基础上予以P8仿生物电刺激辅助治疗,均治疗3个月。对比两组疗效、月经改善情况、治疗后1年妊娠情况、粘连复发情况和治疗前、治疗1个月后、3个月后粘连评分、子宫内膜容积、子宫内膜厚度、子宫内膜血流参数［阻力指数（RI）、搏动指数（PI）］、血清MMP-9、TGF-β1水平。结果：研究组治疗3个月后总有效率、月经改善率分别为92.45%、94.34%,高于对照组的75.47%、79.25%（P＜0.05）;研究组治疗1个月后、3个月后粘连评分和RI、PI低于对照组,子宫内膜容积、子宫内膜厚度高于对照组（P＜0.05）;研究组治疗1个月后、3个月后血清MMP-9水平高于对照组,TGF-β1水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）;研究组治疗后1年妊娠率44.23%高于对照组25.00%,粘连复发率15.38%低于对照组32.69%（P＜0.05）。结论：宫腔镜下冷刀分离术后P8仿生物电刺激辅助治疗宫腔粘连可减轻宫腔粘连程度,改善子宫内膜容积、厚度、血流情况,调节血清MMP-9、TGF-β1表达,改善月经情况,进而提高疗效和妊娠率,减少粘连复发。     

麒麟丸联合炔雌醇环丙孕酮对多囊卵巢综合征致不孕症患者子宫内膜容受性、血清性激素和氧化应激水平的影响

摘要 目的：探讨麒麟丸联合炔雌醇环丙孕酮对多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）致不孕症患者子宫内膜容受性、血清性激素和氧化应激水平的影响。方法：选取我院于2018年1月~2020年1月期间收治的PCOS致不孕症患者460例,符合要求的患者按照随机数字表法分为对照组和研究组,各为230例。对照组患者予以炔雌醇环丙孕酮治疗,研究组予以麒麟丸联合炔雌醇环丙孕酮治疗,对比两组疗效、子宫内膜容受性、性激素、氧化应激、排卵率、妊娠率和不良反应。结果：研究组的临床总有效率较对照组更高（P<0.05）。研究组治疗后子宫动脉搏动指数（PI）、子宫动脉血流阻力指数（RI）低于对照组,子宫内膜厚度大于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组治疗后促卵泡激素（FSH）和黄体生成素（LH）低于对照组,雌二醇（E2）高于对照组（P<0.05）。研究组治疗后丙二醛（MDA）、活性氧物质（ROS）低于对照组,过氧化物歧化酶（SOD）高于对照组（P<0.05）。随访6个月后,研究组的妊娠率、排卵率明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率组间对比无差异（P>0.05）。结论：麒麟丸联合炔雌醇环丙孕酮治疗PCOS致不孕症患者,可以有效改善患者子宫内膜容受性、血清性激素和氧化应激状态,提高妊娠率、排卵率,安全有效。     

子宫内膜容受性检测技术在反复种植失败患者冻融胚胎移植中的应用价值及其临床妊娠的影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨子宫内膜容受性检测（ERT）技术在反复种植失败患者冻融胚胎移植（FET）中的应用价值,并分析其临床妊娠的影响因素。方法：回顾性分析2019年10月~2022年4月期间海南省妇女儿童医学中心收治的150例反复种植失败患者的临床资料,根据是否接受ERT技术分为ERT组（n=78,接受ERT技术）和无ERT组（n=72,未接受ERT技术）。按照反复种植失败患者是否临床妊娠分为临床妊娠组和未临床妊娠组。采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归模型分析临床妊娠的影响因素。结果：两组异位妊娠率组间对比未见统计学差异（P>0.05）。ERT组临床妊娠率、活产率高于无ERT组,移植日内膜厚度大于无ERT组,移植胚胎数少于无ERT组,流产率低于无ERT组（P<0.05）。所有患者按照是否临床妊娠分为临床妊娠组（n=85）和未临床妊娠组（n=65）。单因素分析结果显示：临床妊娠与年龄、移植胚胎类别、移植胚胎数量、总周期数、FSH、子宫内膜厚度、子宫内膜类型有关（P<0.05）,而与体质量指数（BMI）、不孕年限、不孕类型、胚胎冷冻保存时间无关（P>0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示：年龄偏大、FSH偏高是临床妊娠的危险因素,而移植胚胎类别为囊胚、移植胚胎数量偏多是临床妊娠的保护因素（P<0.05）。结论：ERT技术用于反复种植失败患者FET中,可有效改善患者的临床妊娠。年龄、FSH、移植胚胎类别、移植胚胎数量是临床妊娠的影响因素。     

血清CCL17、CXCR4与重度子痫前期患者Th17细胞的相关性分析及对母婴结局的影响

摘要 目的：探讨血清C-C基序趋化因子配体17（CCL17）、CXC趋化因子受体4（CXCR4）与重度子痫前期（SPE）患者辅助性T细胞（Th）17细胞的相关性分析及对母婴结局的影响。方法：选择2018年3月至2021年3月苏州大学附属第二医院妇产科收治的169例SPE患者（SPE组）和77例健康孕产妇（对照组）。检测血清CCL 17、CXCR4水平和外周血Th17细胞及其细胞因子。Pearson分析血清CCL 17、CXCR4水平与外周血Th17细胞及其细胞因子的关系,多因素Logistic回归分析SPE母婴结局不良的相关因素。结果：SPE组血清CCL17、CXCR4水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）,外周血Th17细胞占比、血清白细胞介素（IL）-17水平高于对照组（P＜0.05）。血清CCL17、CXCR4水平与外周血Th17细胞占比、血清IL-17水平呈负相关（P＜0.05）。母婴结局不良53例,母婴结局良好116例,母婴结局不良组血清CCL 17、CXCR4水平低于母婴结局良好组（P＜0.05）。高Th17细胞占比、年龄大、低水平CCL17、CXCR4是SPE患者母婴结局不良的危险因素（P＜0.05）。结论：SPE患者血清CCL17、CXCR4水平降低,且与外周血Th17细胞占比增加,血清IL-17水平增高有关,低水平CCL17、CXCR4是SPE患者母婴结局不良的危险因素。     

Reliability of Analyses of Hg,Fe, Ca,K, P,pH, Alkalinity,Conductivity, Hardness and Colour from Lakes

The aim of this report has been to present results concerning analytical quality controls of Hg analysis of fish and sediment, analyses of Fe, Ca, total-P, K, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, colour and hardness (Ca + Mg) of lake water samples. Despite the fact that these are standard parameters in many regular water control programs, there are major differences in the reliability with which these parameters can be determined. The focus here is on an overall inter-laboratory comparison between the parameters. Six laboratories have been involved in the analysis. Selected results: pH gives the lowest (average) relative standard deviation (error), about 2 %; conductivity gives an error of about 5–7 %; alkalinity yields an average error of as much as 13–25 %, which is the largest among the parameters studied here; colour also gives a high error, 9–15 %; hardness gives a relative standard deviation of about 6–7 %. Of the other parameters (i. e., Hg, Fe, Ca and P), Hg gives the best reliability and Fe and P the lowest. To have knowledge of the reliability of the analytical data is of paramount importance in most control programs and research projects.     

Distribution of N,P, K,Ca, Mg,S, Zn,Fe, Mn and Cu in groundnut

Summary Concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in summer groundnut crop was higher than in kharif while Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu contents were higher in summer crop. Kernel's N, P and Zn; Leaflet's Ca and Mn; Stem's K and Fe; Root's S and Cu and Petiole's Mg contents were highest. Shell's N, P, K, Mg, S, Zn and Cu; Kernel's Ca, Fe and Mn contents were the least. N, P, K, S, Zn and Cu concentrations decreased linearly as the crop grew. Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn concentrations did not display any distinct pattern. Ca concentration was positively correlated with pod yield in both the seasons.     

Uniform hypothesis of cell behavior--movement, contact inhibition of movement, adhesion, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, division, contact inhibition of division, fusion.

The cell has been represented as a charged liquid drop. Contrary to the DLVO-theory, the effect of the surface potential upon the value of the interfacial tension of the cell membrane has also been taken into consideration. The cell membrane has visco-elastic properties and its constituents may move against each other. Cell movement is caused by the appearance of a small number of the electrically charged constituents of the cell membrane on the leading edge of the cell. This produces a local decrease in the surface tension and the cell membrane expansion. At the moment of contact between two cells proton transfers occur between the strongly negatively charged microvilli of one cell and the body of the other, analogous to a condenser breakdown. This, through the effect on the surface tension, causes contact inhibition of movement. The distribution of the proton dissociable groups modifies the interaction between the cells (differentiation) and between the cell and the substratum (adhesion). Adsorption of the charged compounds at the surface of the cell membrane, decreasing the surface potential and increasing the surface tension, causes the phenomena of chemotaxis, phagocytosis and pinocytosis. Cell division, considered in the terms of the surface energy, requires an adequate supply of considerable quantities of energy inversely proportional to the surface potential value. In case of a reduction of the distance between the cells, their surface potential and the energetic barrier of the cell division processes increases, and causes contact inhibition of cell division. Due to their high charge, division of neoplastic cells is inhibited much later than division of normal cells, or is completely ininhibited due to geometric conditions. Fusion of the cell membrane in the intra-cellular and intercellular processes is a reverse process in relation to the cell division.     

The effect of malathion,diazinon, and various concentrations of zinc,copper, nickel,lead, iron,and mercury on fish

Acute and chronic toxicity tests for malathion, diazinon, copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) were conducted. Mortalities ofBarilius vagra andCyprinus carpio (common carp) were variable but LC50-96 hr were similar for pesticides. AdultB. vagra seem to be more sensitive to malathion than juvenile carp. Both juvenile carp and adultB. vagra were extremely sensitive to diazinon. Long-term exposure to pesticides modified morphology and behavior. The LC50-96 values for Cu, Hg, and Pb were 0.3, 0.16, and 0.44, respectively, for smaller fish and 1.0, 0.77, and 1.33, respectively, for larger fish. Replicate LC50 values for Zn, Ni, and Fe were somewhat variable, and for these metals, the size of the fish seemed to affect response because LC50 values increased as fish size increased. Cooper, Pb, Zn, and Fe residues following exposure to sublethal concentrations of these metals for 15 d were significantly greater in whole juvenile common carp than in controls.     

The Effect of Age and Gender on Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Sr, V, and Zn Contents in Rib Bone of Healthy Humans

The effect of age and gender on major, minor, and trace element contents in the intact rib bone of 80 relatively healthy 15–55-year-old women and men was investigated. Contents or upper limit of contents of 16 chemical elements in the rib bone were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Mean values (M?±?SΕΜ) for the mass fraction of Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Na, P, S, Sr, and Zn (milligram per kilogram of dry bone) were as follows: 2.54?±?0.16, 171,400?±?4,050, 1.35?±?0.22, 140?±?11, 1,874?±?71, 0.049?±?0.011, 2,139?±?38, 5,378?±?88, 75,140?±?1,660, 1,881?±?51, 291?±?20, and 92.8?±?1.5, respectively. The upper limits of contents of Al, B, Mn, and V were <7.20, <0.65, <0.36, and <0.03, respectively. Statistically significant tendency for the Ca, Mg, and P content to decrease with age was found in the human rib bone, regardless of gender. The mass fraction of Fe in the male rib bone increases with age. It was shown that higher Ca, Mg, Na, P, and Sr mass fractions as well as lower Fe content were typical of female ribs as compared to those in male ribs.     

Further studies of the sieve-element plastids of theCaryophyllales includingBarbeuia,Corrigiola, Lyallia,Microtea, Sarcobatus,andTelephium

The sieve-element plastids of 69 species of theCaryophyllales were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. All contained the specific subtype-P3 plastids characterized by a peripheral ring of protein filaments. The presence or absence of an additional central protein crystal and their shape being either polygonal or globular as well as the average sizes of the sieve-element plastids are useful features in the characterization of some families.—Barbeuia contains sieve-element plastids that confirm its placement within thePhytolaccaceae. Lyallia differs fromHectorella by including small starch grains in their sieve-element plastids, which otherwise by their globular crystals negate a closer connection to theCaryophyllaceae. The lack of a central protein crystal in its form-P3fs plastids placesMicrotea best within theChenopodiaceae. Sarcobatus, a so far uncontested member of theChenopodiaceae, contains form-P3cf plastids, i.e., including a central crystal not found elsewhere in this family.Telephium andCorrigiola, shifted back and forth betweenMolluginaceae andCaryophyllaceae, have form-P3cf(s) plastids with a polygonal crystal which favor their placement within theCaryophyllaceae.     

Definitions,measurements, and classifications of stimuli,situations, and environments

A review is presented of issues relevant to the definition, measurement, and classification of stimuli, situations, and environments. Problems such as the lack of adequate definitions of concepts, error and bias in measurement procedures, confusion between measurement of a concept and measurement of its behavioral effects, and the lack of agreement among alternative measures are emphasized. It is suggested that concepts be defined in terms of objective characteristics while allowing for the study of the transactional relationship between organism and environment. The work of the ethologists in defining stimuli while studying their relationship to different organismic states and situational contexts is emphasized in this regard. Following Brunswik, it is also suggested that wherever possible there be a representative sampling of variables in natural settings. Note from the editors: From time to time, Human Ecology will publish a review article. Our first in this series is a review by a psychologist of basic definitional and conceptual problems in environmental studies.This paper was prepared while the author was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Educational Testing Service. The support of ETS and my colleagues in the Division of Psychological Studies is gratefully acknowledged. The review was also supported in part by a grant from the Rutgers University Research Council.     

Simultaneous measurement of the trace elements Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum and their reference ranges by ICP-MS

The goal of this article was to establish reference ranges of the concentration of trace elements in human serum and to compare these results with those reported by other authors. We describe the sample preparation and measurement conditions that allow the rapid, precise, and accurate determination of Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum samples (n=110) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accuracy and precision were determined by analyzing three reconstituted reference serum samples by comparison with other methods and by the standard addition procedure. The advantages of the ICP-MS method include short time of analysis of the elements mentioned, low detection limit, high precision, and high accuracy. Disadventages include a high risk of contamination due to the presence of some of the elements of interest in the environment, the relatively delicate sample handling, and the high cost of the equipment.